Best Live Music Scenes in Barcelona

Barcelona’s nightlife scene has something for everyone, but especially for those who love live music. The vibrant culture and even more energetic nightlife provide this city with the perfect atmosphere to kick back and enjoy some mellow tunes or bust some moves to an enthusiastic DJ. From the enormous venues that have hosted Olympic games to sultry hidden jazz dens, Barcelona offers incredible live experiences for any kind of music lover.

Bel-Luna Jazz Club is open every night of the week and offers an upscale menu of contemporary cuisine and amazing drinks. Black walls and black sofas are complemented with blue lights that give this venue the literal feel of “the blues.” There is a section for those who are looking for some intimate conversation or a smoke as well as a spacious non-smoking area for patrons who want to simmer down to the sounds of some calming saxophone while sipping wine and finishing dinner.

Photo courtesy Party Earth.

Angsty youth and those who appreciate some live punk music have found a punk paradise in Sala Apolo, a lively club with two separate areas to give patrons options for how they want to spend the night. The main floor is meant for intense, elbow-to-elbow dancing and the upstairs is intended as a place to grab a casual drink. The venue features various musical acts from an assortment of genres every night of the week.

Sala BeCool is a medium-sized club and one of the music venues in Barcelona for a true house/tech/minimal variety dance experience. The fact that it is a somewhat lengthy walk from the nearest public transportation shouldn’t deter those who want to spend their night gyrating and sweating to some of the city’s most well respected DJs. The crowd is fun-loving and sociable, a great fit for those who want the classic nightclub experience without any pretension.

Those looking to see a show in a stress-free or VIP environment should head straight to Sant Jordi Club, a mid-sized music venue located in Barcelona’s Olympic Ring. Strategically placed lights and a sleek atmosphere make this the ideal place to see big name bands. Performers such as The Cranberries, The Hives, The All-American Rejects, and Lenny Kravitz have performed at this 2,900 square meter concert venue.

Palau Municipal d’Esports de Bandalona (also called Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona) is a large arena originally built in 1991 to house the Spanish team Joventut de Badalona. The venue can accommodate up to a whopping 12,500 concertgoers making it the perfect place to see A-list bands in an energetic atmosphere. Past performances at the the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona have included Guns and Roses as well as the Olympic Basketball Tournament during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona featuring America’s original Dream Team.